Checklist for B-1 Business Visitor's Visa

If you are applying for a business visitor's visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad, the following checklist will be helpful. Please contact our office for more details. www.kathleenlord.com


1. Copy of bank statements showing adequate funds to support yourself for the 6 months duration of the visa (or other documents showing some other arrangement for adequate funds to be sent to you from your home country);

2. Itinerary of what you plan to do during the visit, e.g., list names and addresses of contacts you will visit in the U.S., including lawyers and other professionals (We can work on this after you arrive in the U.S.) You will need set out specific and realistic plans for the entire six-month period (see discussion of seminars and conferences below);

3. Copy of return ticket for return to home country before 6-month term of visa is over if you have one (or some other evidence that you do not plan to stay over the 6 month’s duration of the visa). You will be entitled to renew the B-1 for another 6-month period, but initially Immigration wants to know that your intent at the time of applying for the B-1 is to return before the visa expires in 6 months.) Proposing in your B-1 application a period of less than 6 months would have a better chance of success than proposing a period of stay in terms of remaining for the 6-months maximum period allowable under the B visa. For example, if all the business activities you list will reasonably take only 4 months, we should ask for 4 months -- or leave the time requested open (and they will probably grant 6 months);

4. Copy of documents proving the existence of the foreign employer, i.e., documents that show the foreign company has an office abroad and payroll is disbursed from the overseas office;

5. Letters from family explaining strong family ties to home country (should be notarized);

6. Copies of bills or other mail delivered to you at your home address in your home country, or other evidence that you maintain a foreign residence;

7. List of clients your business has in your home country, if any (or other documents showing permanent employment in your home country, meaningful business or financial connections in your home country, or other commitments that indicate a strong inducement to return to your home country);

8. documents showing future participation in business events (such as those sponsored by the French American Chamber of Commerce, German American Business Association). These organizations will hold seminars and other events in the U.S. that you can list in your application for B-1 as proper business activities you will engage in while on the B-1 (e.g., observing the conduct of business activity in the U.S., consulting with business associates, networking);

9. Letters from contacts that show a proper business purpose (including specific dates and goals of meetings):

Some acceptable business purposes include:

1) consultations with business associates,

2) travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or

3) conference on specific dates,

4) settle an estate, or

5) negotiate a contract.